From crisis to strategy: digital transformation or digital delusion?

HUMANE autumn webinar programme No way back: opportunities emerging in a post-Covid world

Wednesday September 30th 14:00-15:00 CEST

Save the date and register here

We are pleased to announce that registrations are now open for the first in our series of autumn webinar programmes. This programme will be delivered in partnership with EAB. Save the date and register here.

Digital transformation or digital delusion?

Pre-pandemic, digital transformation in universities was an aspirational goal. In 2020, at warp speed, it emerged as a necessity for business continuity. The question is no longer “how to build a digital university,” but rather “how quickly can it be done.”

But how can we build a genuinely transformative digital strategy for the long haul? This question will be the focus of our webinar programme.

With our partner EAB, we have developed a 5 minute survey on digital transformation prioritization, investments and implementation progress. To access and complete the short survey click here.

The aggregate results will be presented during our webinar and provide topical context for the panel discussion that will follow, as well as discussion of digital transformation case studies. We would be most grateful if you could complete the short questionnaire. A good response rate will lead to a more interesting, informative and ultimately useful webinar.

This webinar is free and open to HUMANE members and residential school alumni, as are all of the other programmes being offered in the autumn series. Click here for further information about these programmes.

We look forward to welcoming you to our programme on the 30th of September. Click here to register.

No way back: opportunities emerging in a post-Covid world

HUMANE summer webinar programme

As the public finances of all European countries come under intense pressure as a result of the decline in economic activity resulting from the pandemic, the risks that will manifest for universities are all too apparent.

But as with every crisis, there are also opportunities to build on the experiences of the so called Great Lockdown.

Policy changes that would have taken years to agree have been implemented in weeks; on-line teaching has grown at a rate that could not have been imagined three months ago; and many leadership teams have aligned around a common purpose that would not have been possible in times past.

Over the next couple of months, we are pleased to offer a series of free, short webinar programmes addressing post-Covid opportunities for all HUMANE members and residential school alumni. The first of these are:

Making the most of Covid-19 emergency management gains: an introduction to Lean
Wednesday June 17th 11.00–12.00 CEST
The near certain financial fallout from the pandemic will drive demand for far reaching changes in key processes in universities. Lean thinking is a collection of principles and methods to maximise value whilst minimising waste. What are the key tenets of Lean and what needs to be done to adopt them?
To secure a free place, register here

Emergency management and learning. Will we learn lessons from the pandemic?
Thursday June 25th 10.00–11.00 CEST
Contrary to assumed wisdom, the research evidence about disaster and crisis management shows that organisations commonly do not learn lessons from these experiences. How can we ensure that we do?
To secure a free place, register here

The space race: a tipping point for blended learning & universities’ work space?
Wednesday July 1st 12.00–13.00 CEST
Many service industry leaders and futurists have predicted that our experience of the Great Lockdown will sweep away many of the artificial barriers to moving decisively into a digitised world. Will this be true for higher education? Or will we slip back to a version of a pre-Covid world?
To secure a free place, register here

Each of our webinars will feature a panel of HUMANE members and invited guests, with an opportunity for participants to question and challenge panellists as well as make their own contributions.

Details of panellists and the format of each programme will be provided upon registration following the links provided above.

Participation is free for HUMANE members and Residential School alumni.

We look forward to welcoming you to these events.

Future events will be advertised in the HUMANE e-Newsletter.

Sustaining public confidence in our universities:
public affairs, impact and influence

HUMANE Spring Seminar
April 23-24, 2020
Hosted by the Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca

The theme of our Spring seminar could not be more topical.

Coming at a time when countries are hotly debating how best to share societal benefits, people working in universities have no doubt of their institutions’ value to society. But it would be a mistake to think that this is accepted by a majority of the community.

In the face of criticism that universities are out of touch with the taxpayers who fund them, our institutions have had to reassess their entire approach to stakeholder communications including for example, public affairs, strategic communications and issue management.

Our seminar will share practice on what universities are doing to tackle these challenges, in terms of policy and strategy, organisation and management, and the deployment of skilled professionals. Session leaders will be sharing information about the choices they’ve made in this regard and why, the successes they’ve achieved, and the lessons they’ve learned the hard way.

Click here for more information and register now to secure your place at what promises to be a thought provoking and highly interactive seminar.

The seminar will be held from midday Thursday 23 to midday Friday 24 April, allowing participants to travel home for the weekend, or stay over for the weekend in the beautiful City of Milan.

Register now to secure your place.